Each certified candidate in the 2023 General Election has been given this platform to introduce themselves to the community and state why they are running for council in 250 words or less.
Edwina “Winnie” Johnson-Graham
Wunee Keesuq (Good Day) Tribal Community,
I’m Edwina “Winne” Johnson-Graham and the name Blue Girl given to me by Supreme Medicine Man John “Slow Turtle” Peters. I come from the Pocknett, Tobey, Cash, Peters and Hendricks families and live in Mashpee with my husband Marlon Graham and daughter Malana.
I’m passionate about our tribal family and our homeland. I say what’s on my mind and I’m an advocate for traditions. I love our Tribal Nation.
Over the past 14 years I’ve proudly served as your Councilwoman. I serve as liaison to the Community Development Corporation, Pow Wow Committee, Elders Judiciary Committee, Old Indian Meetinghouse, Museum and ICWA. Our Tribe needs us to give back our time and talent and I enjoy serving.
I also serve as the Chairwoman of the Indian Education Parent Committee, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition Board, Commonwealth Health and Human Services Regional Board, Secretary of the Department of Transitional Assistance Advisory Board, Mashpee’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Committee and Vice Chairwoman of Mashpee Inclusion and Diversity Committee. I’m working hard every day to bring more Tribal members onto these boards and committees.
Our future is bright if we work together as our ancestors did. if re-elected I will continue to serve our people with my heart and make sure to keep our traditions alive in every decision I make. It’s been my honor to serve you all and hope you will let me continue to give back in such a meaningful way!
Rita Pocknett Gonsalves
Rita is respectively asking for your vote to reelect her to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council. Please see some of the special qualities of Rita Pocknett Gonsalves.
On a personal level, Rita is the matriarch of her family. She has five children, Mika, Jocelyn, Allison, Peter, Brittany and a loving companion Hiacoombs. Personal financials are secure.
Life’s Work: Rita Gets the Work Done!
Rita’s accomplishments during her last 4 years as Tribal Council have been Tribal Employment Rights, fighting for Tribal preference TERO law; she reviewed the incoming process of a new hire and saw there was a competent Native American that met the requirements of the job and was not hired. The outcome was a rehire for that position with a Qualified Wampanoag Tribal member. Under TERO law, she created the FEE schedule that allows income for the Tribe.
Ethics, under her leadership she formed and leads the grassroots group and through their work established the FIRST TRIBAL COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT. She wrote the Tribal Response to Corruption the TCR and after review at the Council table got it approved.
With 30 years of experience in Healthcare and her experience as Tribal Council Rita prioritizes Customer Service, Communication, and Accessibility. She listens, and strives for good community relations.
She received her Master’s in Management Degree at Cambridge College in 2014
ü Proven Integrity
ü Administrative & Fiscal management-prevention of deficit spending,
ü Inter-Governmental Affairs
ü Federal back-ground clearance done
VOTE: RITA POCKNETT GONSALVES ON FEBRUARY 12, 2023
Nitana Hicks Greendeer
Nutus8ees Nitana Hicks Greendeer. I was raised in Mashpee and currently live here with my husband and our 5 kids.
I am a speaker of Wôpanâak and work for WLRP as the interim director, and the head of Weetumuw School. I’ve taught community language classes, and recently have been sharing my talent for sewing with ribbon skirt class. Previously, I was the tribe’s Education Director.
I have an MS in Linguistics and a PhD in Education. For my doctoral dissertation I worked with the Tribe’s then-Education Director and community members to address the educational needs of our students. My dissertation has been used to procure hundreds of thousands of dollars for the education and language departments.
Here is why I am Running
· I believe we need to invest in our youth. In order to improve some of the issues that we face as a tribe, we need to break cycles that have settled in as a result of generational traumas. To do this, we must implement consistent programming to address their mental health, physical health, cultural knowledge, self-esteem, relationships, education, employment, and personal aspirations and talents.
· We deserve leaders who understand that sovereignty will only be realized if we are careful in the steps we take to get there. We might not always agree with council decisions, but we need to trust that they are acting in our collective best interest.
If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to email me at nitanahg@gmail.com
Kutachee tâputôtamawunumuw.
Cecelia Martinez
Mashpee born and Mashpee raised; with the values of Respect for my land and my people. I have a deep-seeded love for my extended Mashpee family and ask for your trust and vote in my desire to help bring civility back to our tribe; to help bring back a time when no Mashpee Wamp was homeless; to help return us to a time when we didn’t suffer the loss of our family members to the disease of addiction. I carry my family line; Attaquin, Pocknett, and Tobey the way my Mother did, with a welcoming heart and an ever-growing love of education and learning and teaching new things. Trust in one another and our elected leaders has become something that seems like a privilege but it is something that should be a given. I want to help bring that back to our perception of our leaders too. Being in municipal service, including with my own tribe for many years in security, as an Enrollment Committee Member, the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project Vice President, I understand the need for us to serve our people. But moreover, I understand the importance of knowing my fellow tribal members. I will be available to my brothers and sisters when you reach out to me and will continue to serve our tribe as I always have; with an eye to upholding tribal policies and laws and doing so with Respect for each citizen. Safe, affordable Housing, addiction services, and professional interactions will guide my service.
Steve Bingham Jr.
Wuneekeesug (Good Day)
Nutus8ees (I am) Steven “Eastwind” Bingham Jr.
from the Beaver & Turtle clan.
Grand Mother Amelia “Seaweed” Bingham aka Honey
Grand Father Lieutenant, Colonel George Bingham aka Papa
Mother Francie “Laughing waters” Dottin – Dad Steven Peters Bingham Sr.
I would like to introduce myself to my people, I am a GOD fearing man, husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin and soon to be elder who loves his Wampanoag Nation. I would love to serve my beautiful Wampanoag people in any way possible. My life is one of respect and honor for my elders, adults and the younger generation by helping, building, supporting and encouraging us to partner together to be an unstoppable force for success in every area of our lives mentally, physically and spiritually.
I truly believe that if we cooperate with one another laying down our differences and issues that there’s nothing that together we cannot achieve. I have always had the vision and ability to see our capabilities and creative wisdom to maximize our potential towards greatness. My desire is to see us as a Tribal Nation with nothing missing, nothing lacking, nothing broke, walking in power, love and a sound mind. It would be my honor and privilege to be your Tribal Council member to serve and uphold our constitution for the betterment of all our Wampanoag Tribal Nation.
Thank you,
Steven P. Bingham Jr.
May “The CREATOR” of all life
Bless, Prosper and Protect you all the days of your Life. Aho
Suzette Peters Mattis
I am the daughter of Joseph A Peters Jr. and Yvonne A. (Frye) Avant. My loving grandparents were Joseph and Anna Peters (Pocknett) and Milton Frye and Marjorie Hendricks. I proudly carry the genes of these large “Proud to be Wampanoag” families. I grew up in Mashpee and have been involved in our tribal affairs my whole life. I worked with the Tribal Girls camping trips, the Pow Wow Committee, Enrollment Committee, the Ball Committee and also served on the Indian Education Parent Committee for several years.
Professionally, I have been a License Optician for over 20 years and I presently manage Target Optical in Wareham. I also own KDM Home Improvement with my husband Keniel. My many years of working with the public in a managerial role and as a business owner I will bring my experience of personnel, public relations, budgeting and reporting skills to the Council table.
Seeing my mother sit on Tribal Council for over 30 years, is my greatest inspiration. I grew up around Council meetings and saw the importance of giving back to the community and making decisions for our Tribe as a whole. Being fair, honest and uncompromised is what you can expect from me.
Tribal Goals: Continue Casino efforts while pursuing other economic development opportunities; Enhance Elder Services; address Prime Age concerns; establish Youth Programs; establish an All Events Committee; and establish School to Career programs.
I would be honored to have your vote and be your voice to bring forth a positive future.
Winona Pocknett
I’m the daughter of the late Horace Pocknett and Grace (Hicks) Pocknett. I’m proud to be from two strong tribal families. I grew up in Mashpee and I’m proud to be Mashpee Wampanoag. I graduated from Falmouth High School in 1993 and then attended Cape Cod Community College studying criminal justice. After college I worked with the mentally challenged for many years. I’m now employed by our tribal finance department, which is extremely rewarding.
Our elders are my source of knowledge and I thrive on their wisdom and knowledge. I will always strive to bring great opportunities to my people through the teaching of our elders.
Our youth look up to us and I want them to see the good. I believe in working together and providing a positive example to our youth on how we can and should get our work done. Our ancestors fought for what is right but they did it with dignity and pride and they were successful.
Almost 2 years ago the Chairman ask if I would go after the broadband grant. After research and data collecting with the tribes grant manager. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was awarded 9.1 million! This is such a great opportunity that will benefit all of our families. I will not stop here! My hope is for all tribal members to come home and gain substantial employment as we build upon our tribal sovereign self-determination.
I consider this a humbling honor to represent my people.
Edward Avant
My goal take the next logical step in my continuing journey by running for tribal council. Who Am I bird??? I went to high school here. I worked at the Flume, the Wigwam, and the Red Rooster and yes, the old Town Barn all summer jobs where I listened and learned as a teenager washing dishes, cutting onions, and doing road work with the old timers. I even mowed the lawn at the old Tribal council on route 130 from time to time LOL! I taught Martial arts initially (still teach), Then joined the Air Force (21 years); 1st as Security Forces then a computer technician. Retired stayed in Colorado receiving A Bachelor’s of Science, two Master’s degrees and a Capstone Doctor of Computer Science. Managed contracting and medical administration tool sets. Taking me to 15 years in the civilian federal service and my current IHS position here in Mashpee. I have worked HIPPA, security/privacy/assurance/information technology and HR. Oh!!! Along the way had three wonderful kiddos April, Ryan and Zack, Love em to pieces!!! I also understand that it is not all about education but mainly common sense and being able to compromise to a winnable solution for the Tribe. Group dynamics is critical to any success on a tribal level. So here I am with my skill sets to support our tribe! Let’s work in plain language to make the solutions understandable to all.
Thank you for your consideration.
Domingo Tiexeira
Eighteen months ago, I was elected to Tribal Council, and it’s been an honor. In that short time, I’ve made real progress for our people and humbly ask for the opportunity to continue what I’ve started.
As a councilman, I was appointed liaison to the housing department to help complete First Light homes in a timely fashion. My expertise as a Construction Site foreman/ Supervisor allowed me to work closely with the Director of housing Shelly Tobey and her staff to achieve our goals.
I’m also on the enrollment committee. This committee needed new leadership to lift the Moratorium. Working closely with the enrollment director Rita Lopez and the enrollment committee, we have been meeting weekly to work for our people and make gains in the process.
I’m a liaison to the city of Taunton for government-to-government relations assisting the gaming authority as we build a sustainable tribal economy.
As a licensed 2a Hoist operating engineer, structural engineer, and a local 385 union member for the past 20 years, I’ve worked on extensive design build projects.
What has been most important to me over the past year and a half as a Councilman was getting several young tribal men into the labors union to earn an honest living and have a great career in the construction field.
I also had the pleasure of helping remodel Hooppole Road home to help tribal members battle addiction. Giving back to our People is a priority for me and my family.
Roxanne Mills-Brown
Chuh, my relatives, nutus8ees Roxanne Mills-Brown, daughter of Chief Flying Eagle, Earl H. Mills Sr. and the late Shirley L. Mills (Navajo); granddaughter of Ferdinand and Emma Oakley Mills and the late Daniel L. (Navajo) and Elsie Post Moore. I come from Pocknett, Webquish, Mills; Attaquin, Connett, and Oakley lines. I look forward to working with a new Council on the work underway, and the work yet to be engaged.
To articulate my understanding of what it means to serve my people, and all that it entails, is challenging. The honor bestowed on any tribal member, by the people, is not to be accepted without fully understanding the responsibility, on so many levels, that accompanies that honor. I run for Tribal Council as a change agent, to represent all Mashpee Wampanoags, and to advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.
I seek to bring a positive energy, a traditional voice, and a wealth of personal and professional experience to the table. I understand the commitment is great, and the work is never-ending. Tribal education, wellness, healthy children and families, recovery of tribal lands, to include sacred areas and housing, and economic development are all areas for which I am vested; additionally, examining who we are as a people, strengthening enrollment requirements, and adopting a higher standard of ethics for those in leadership.
Remembering the sacrifices and legacies of the ancestors, while working for the perpetuation of all things good, for the people and the next seven generations.
Peesh kunâunumuw
Nelson Andrews Jr.
Nelson serves as Emergency Management Director, Tribal Councilman, and Vice President of the CDC for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Nationally, he serves as Chairman of the United South & Eastern Tribes Homeland Security & Emergency Services Committee and is on the Executive Committee for Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee.
As a Tribal Council member, he intends to ensure the health and safety of the tribe, while focusing on elders and youth. This includes a plan for mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. He aims to increase budgets for police/security.
Nelson wishes to provide a sound Tribal Government working as a unified front toward progress. Some goals are passing the ethics ordinance, Tribal Constitution reform, and creating policies on respectful meetings.
Nelson anticipates meetings with state/federal governments promoting Tribal relations, including education on the importance of the Tribes History. He wants to help create Federal Legislation enhancing tribes through an automatic Tribal representative at each state house across the country.
Nelson wants to establish an education program for Tribal elders/youth enhancing the Education department through increased funding, including the Tribes school. He envisions classes where elders teach youth traditions regarding regalia, drumming, language, history and art.
Nelson wants to institute economic futures for Tribal members including additional grant writers generating more funding. There should also be full-time paid Gaming Authority, CDC positions, and the Tribe should have full-time Tribal Council Seats. This allows time to focus on Tribal Growth and needs like an ordinance adopting state tax codes supporting these initiatives.
